Chain-assembling machine.



o. H. SPENCER 111.1. oAKEs.

CHAIVNYASSEMBLING MACHINE. APPLICAIION FILED PR.24 1916.

L, Patented Feb.19,1918.

0. H. SPENCER F. I. OAKES. cHAm AssEmBLING Memmi- APPLICATION FILED APR.24. 1916.

L. Patented Feb.19,1918.

/ ArroHNEr entran srarns rarnNfr ernten. f

owEN H. SPENCER AND FRANKJ. oaKns, or INDIANAPOLISJNDYI'ANA, AssIeNon's'ro Y LINILBELT COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, A CoRronATIoN or ILLINOIS.

CHAIN-ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

I and FRANK J. OAKEs, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indianznhave invented a new and useful Chain-Assembling Machine, of which the following. is a specification.

In the manufacture of'silent chains, it has heretofore been necessary to assemble the chain by placing the links in position manually, so that it was necessary to handle each link individually. This required great 'labor and expense.

It isV the object of our present invention to provide means for assembling a silent chain automatically.

T he accompanying drawings illustrate our invention. Figure 1 is a front elevation of an assembling apparatus yembodying our invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation thereof, partly in section on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1, indicating in dottedjlines the assembling comb tilted forward to permit removalof the assembled chain, section; Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line -3-3 of Fig. 1, with part of the link-placing cylinder lbroken away to show the link-discharge openings in this cylinder casing Fig. 4 is a detail of the latching mechanism for permitting tilting of the assembling comb. when desired; Fig. 5 is a partial sectionvon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a detail of a modifiedV form vof construction of the reciprocating kmechanism, for Afacilitating changing'of the link groupings in the finished chain. Y f n Mounted between the end pieces 10 ofa suitable frame 11 is a horizontal cylindrical casing 12 on which is mounted a series of magazines 13 for silent chain links. These magazines are conveniently vertical, and each is of such size that it can receive within it a pile 'of silent chain links 14 with the links arranged flatwise one on top of the other with their respective link points and pitch holes all registering and the link points all pointing in the same direction-to the left in Fig. 2. The mechanism for gettingv the links in this side-by-side arrangement forms the subject-matterV of other invenf tions. Thefmagazines are spaced apartso that the distance froml Acenterjto center Vof Vadjacent magazines is equal vto twice the pitch of the chain. A horizontal cylinder 15 fits rotatably within the casing 12, being suitably supported for rotation and provided at one 'end with a shaft eXtension'lG foroperating it, and at the other with a cam plate 17 which will be described later. The shaft extension 16 may be. provided with any suitable operating mechanism, manual orv power. i'

The cylinder 15 has acircumferential series of pockets 18 for each magazine 13, there being any'desired number of these pockets for each magazine, four vbeing shown in Fig. 2. The casing12 is cut away at thev top beneath the magazines 13 to allow the links 14: to drop from these magazines 13 into these pockets 1S as they come under these magazines during the rotation of the cylinder 15, and is'provided near the bottom with a .link-shaped discharge opening 19 for each circumferential series ofpockets 18, for discharging from such pockets the links which they have received from the magazines 13. To assist in this discharge,

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 19, 1918. Application led Apr124, 1916. Serial No. 93,325. i y i i the cylinder 15 is providedwith a groove Y '20; at each series of pockets 18, this groove Ybeing 1n the plane of the crotch of the links.

in such series of pockets, and a discharging finger 21, conveniently formed integral with the casing 12, projects into each groove 20 so as to engage the link .111 in each pocket 18 as such link approaches the discharge opening 19 and by a cam action force such link out through such opening. The pockets 18 are conveniently formed by longitudinal grooves in the cylinder 15, and split rings 22 mounted in circumferential grooves insuch cylinder; and may be ofproper depth to receive one or more links 14C, as desired, being shown as just deep venough to receive one link. v

. A rock shaft 25 is also Vmounted between theV end pieces 10, and parallels the cylinder 15, being below and slightly forward of such cylinder, as clear from Fig. 2.- The shaft 25 has removably mounted upon it a number of parallel, upwardlyprojecting slide apart fromucenter to center by distances Y quai te the pitch tof the,l @heini or; ene-'hale- 7 Vthe distance kfrom ,A center 5to center ..-.of, adj a? cent magazines 13: K These sta'ckvrods 26xand g pieces 1()jamba/collar'A283y on the rock shaft 7 251,/and bengshiftable tothe yleft y'against 'the actionef the spriiig 2T 4the acti-eh? of Y carri-',:plgate 170151 a roller carried by a' transverse-"piu 36)"011 the lett lia-nit jentof;

k26. Convenientlygthe I oller Q9- hasl theJ huh portions et its t'Wo endsof' -clifferent axial-- lengths, and is axially, reversible {s othat' it 'may' be brought into position toj c jop'er'ate i l "with either theC inner or thefouter; sets of cams oil-'the cam4 plate: 1 7, asfshown, in Figs. i f Q" and' respectively, the-'outer set havi'rig two high ancltwo 'low portions andthe in# v 11er set one) high and one: low portion inthe' arrangerrrehtill'ustrated. The'trahsverse-pirr l305-1'5 s l'iclablyvguided by? alateralpinjfrom the left handend lpiece' ltandal latch Y ses@ pivot-p1 being-providerllwith hahzl Sirch-spriiig SSto release'suchxftransverseipin 302 and a1l'ew. therroclt; Shattan'cl itsas-A the vfull Vlit-1e l' frodsfQ' ofthe assemblihgcomb project radii [ally toward the'` axis ofthe cylinder 15 through the diseharge openhgsllof the,

pitch holes Yofthe "links discharged throl'lgh `v. 1'1'ie11't, save that-thestack rocl farthesttothe leftjis out of ,registry'wheuthe roclrfshaft `iis rshiteltotheleft] and the farthestto the iiectclto allowlth'e passage ofthe staclrod e'nis from, one discharge 'oben-i119!-tov another whehzth'e 'assembling comb Vis shifted;` ABy the faxen Shifting-fof' themes shaft 25, the

the' rock shaft "25' and {assemblirig Comb` are shifted'.tdthe'leftfas indicated in Fig. l), -a11'l -'v vi;l1 elischarged` on to the fourth :mdf .fifth stack rods26 when the rockushaft V25 aliiassembling .eombf are2 shiftedto the 'f t.: v *Y Y A ets 181 may be substituted.

As'e'ries ,of pockets 1 8 vwill bel discharged .ou

tothe vthircl and `fourth stack/ rods 26 when v lation toY the -riuhiberfot hoehe-ts 1:8" in." eachcircu-iuteretial seresgsuichrelation clepenclV iyvtl'rY thief-grouping? the totaln-ulriber of Workihghigh anfelybtifgiportiohs voirfthe rov tating cam plate V1 7' is one-halt the number 85 of: pockets-in eac'hfoircumter'enti'al series if eajch pocket holds'but a single-link, asil-lu-s- 'l i' tratedby the ifhnei'series of cams Fig; Forfclifferentjliu-l groupmgs, the roller 29 may be reversed'1V axially so as toVv cooperate .Withfthe outer series: of cams,' .the pockets l1S 'may be; of cli'iferentj' depth,V orfclierent cylinders 15 vwith dier'ent-numhers ot poel;- l I 'clesir'ecl, in order to' 'make the changing "of li-iiikrgrouo c f s! Then-canades sred arrangement -oflnlt greetings-'caribe obtained by'merely Y sub 'tilting' gear set'sfof 'operatiom thefmjagazines la'lfelled 105 in any'suitableWay-With the linksl, arid @fthe arrow. (Fig; f Alse'ach pocket*leVA comesy under its a associfatedf-1uag1azifne 13, the

is' carried around the.pc'neket,li,v being Y Y retained therein by thercasing 1Q, until. the

"discharge (meniii, 19? isreache'chwhereupon 115,-

thefliiikV is' clischarfgejiQt-'hifough the discharge the *discharging finger" '211;'-

1 pes'sesf through theyopieniri I9, Vit 'is dis- Chargedon totw; of .the star, t rods 26, which l20 Y project up throughthe' pitch holes of the liu-1;, theA spacing of thefstaclt rods correa' spending to that of the pitch' holes. V Viheu' the desiretlvnumber ot'ilihltsfrohr each magah bine] 13' ha's'b'een Clischarged oli 'toits parf- 125 ticulfar pair oista-ck vmets'1261,' this number y beg two -'n the arrangementshownhl Fig.

1;' .the emplee@ 17 -siffiestterock sha-ffies:

" as to"Av bring a different pair `o1 lstack rods posite direction.

26 under each magazine 13, one rod of this new :pair being the same as one rod of the' old pair but shifted to register with vthe other pitch hole. As soon as this shifting has been accomplished, the continued rota'- v tion of the cylinder 15 causes another group of the required number of links to be 4discharged from each magazine on to the new associated pair of stack rods, whereupon by the action of the cam plate 17 the shaft 25 and'assembling comb are 'shifted in the op-V vThis is continued, until the desired-number lof linksis assembled on the assembling comb. Thesel links 'are in the desired arrangement for the final chain,

. groups of linksof any desired number being built up to form a composite whole in Which Vthe groups are positioned in the usual'mansembled cha-in.- Thel base 43 is provided with slots 46 in the planes of the respective stack rods 26, and the base 43 and plate 41 project close tothe two 'sides of the assembling comb when the latter is tilted back to its full line positionv (Fig. 2). When desired, each slot y46 may be countersunk at the sides, so as to'receive washers 47 such as are usually provided at the ends of the pivot pins which'are'to be received in the registering pitchv holes of the assembledJ links. v'When the desired number of links have been piled up on 'the surfaces 40 and 42,v with the points of the links toward the y right (Fig 2), the latch 32 is released and the rock shaft and assembling comb tilted forward, or romthe full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thereby bringing the points of thel links into the notches Vbetween the teeth 45. Then the assembling plate formed by the base 43 and plate44 may be removed by sliding it and the assembled links lengthwise Vof the stack rods 26 to disengage the llinks from the stack rods. Then the rock shaft 25 and assembling comb are tilted back to the full line position shown in Fig. 2, and latched by the .latch 32, whereupon the assembling operartion is repeated to getanother properly assembled group of links. The assembled links on the assemblmg plate thus removed are in position to ,receive the pivot pins of the chain, which may be inserted, either by hand or otherwise, in the registering holes links slide along them in such assembled chain. The same or another assemblingplate may be put in place on the machine to receive the next group of assembled links which are assembledin proper relationship on the stack rods 26, as already described. Y

We claim as our invention; l

' '1. An assembling device for chains,'co1n prising a series of slide bars spaced apart to correspond with the pitch ofthe chain, a series-of magazines for chain links, said magazines beingspaced apart by distances corresponding to twice the pitchV of the chain, and means for receiving links from said magazines and placing them on said slide bars, said last-named means'and said series of slide bars being relatively shiftable longitudinally of the series so as to produce overlapping of the links on the slide bars.

2. An assembling device for chains, comprising a series of slide bars spacedapart to correspond with the pitch of the chain, a

'series of magazines for chain links, said magazines being spacedV bydistances corresponding to twicethe pitch of the chain, a rotating cylinder-for receiving links from said magazines and depositing them on said slide bars, said magazines and said series of slide bars being relatively shiftableaXially of the cylinder to make diii'erent sets of slide bars coperate with each magazine.

3. An assembling device for chains, comprising an assembling comb consisting of aV series of slide bars each supported at one end and free at the other,- said slide bars being spaced apart Iby distances equal to the pitch of the chain, and means for selectively placing links on said assembling comb so that `they slide bars of such assembling comb project through the pitch holes of the links, said slide bars being arranged so that the by kgravity toward their supported ends.

4. An assembling device forl chains, oom'- prising an assembling comb consisting of a series of slide bars each supported at one 'end and free at Vthe other, said slide bars being spaced-apart by distances equal to the pitch of the chain, and means for selectively placing links on said assembling comb so that the slide bars of such assembling comb project through the pitch holes of the links. y

5. An assembling device for chains, com- Vprisin'g an assembling comb consisting of a series of'slide bars each supported atene end and free at the other, said slide'bars being spaced apart by distances equal tothe pitch ing links on said assembling comb so that the slide bars of such assembling comb project through the pitch holes ofthe links, said slide bars being `arranged so that the links slide along them by gravityy toward their supported ends, saidV assembling comb andY said placing means being relatively shiftableof the chain, and meansfor selectively placsaid slide bars being arranged so that the' links Vslide along them by gravity toward their supported ends, and an assembly plate for holding links in thespaced relationship in which they are placed on said assembling comb, said assembling comb and assembly plate being relatively movable to deposit the links'assembled on the vassembling comb on to the assembly plate.

16. An assembling device for chains, coml prising an assembling comb consisting of a series of slide bars each supported at one end and free atthe other, said slide bars being spaced apart by distances equal to the pitch of the chain, means for selectively placing links on said assembling Vcomb so that thel slide bars of such assembling comb project through the pitchlioles ofthe links,and an assembly plate-for holding-links Vin the spaced relationship in Whichvtheyare .placed on said assembling comb, said assembling comb and assembly plate being relatively movable to deposit'the'links assembled on the assembling comb on vto the assembly plate. w

17. An assembling device for chains, comprising an' assembling comb consisting of a series of slide barseach supported at one end and free at the other, said' slide bars being spaced lapart by distances equal to theY pitch of the chain,y means for selectively placing links on said assembling comb so that the slide bars of such assembling comb project through the pitch holes of the links, said slide bars being arranged so that the links slide along them by gravity toward their supported ends, and an assembly plate for holding links in the spaced relationship in which they are placed on said assembling comb, said assembling comb being movable to deposit the links assembled thereon on to the assembly plate and to clear the free ends of the slide bars of the assembling comb.

18. An assembling device for chains, comprising an assembling comb consisting of a series of slide bars each supported at one end and free at the other, said slide bars being spaced apart by distances equal to the pitch of the chain, means for selectively placing links on said assembling comb so that the Vslide bars of such assembling comb project through Vthe pitch holes of the links, and an assembly plate for holding links in the spaced relationship inA Which they are placed on said assembling comb, said assembling vcomb being movable to deposit the links 4assembled thereon on to the assembly plate and to clearV the free ends of the slide bars of the assembling comb. l

1 9. An assembling device for chains, comprising a series of slide bars spaced apart to correspondvvith the pitch of the chain, a series of magazines for chain links, said magazines being spaced apart by distances corresponding to twice the pitch of the v chain, said magazines andY said slide bars being arranged so that the links discharged by the magazines are received on the slide bars` and said series of slide bars and magazines being relatively shiftable longitudinally of the seriesv so as to produce overlapping of the links discharged on to the slide bars fromfthe magazines.

20. An assembling device for chains, comprising a seriesof slide'bars spaced apart to correspond With the pitch of the chain, a seriesk of magazines for chain links, said magazines being'spaced apart by distances 'corresponding to twice the pitch of the chain,.said magazines and said slide bars being arranged so that the links dischargedV by the magazines are received on the slide bars, and said series of slide bars and magazines beingvrelatively shiftabl'e longitudinally of the series alternately in opposite directions so as to produce` overlapping of the links discharged on to the slide bars from the magazines.

21. An assembling, device for chains, comprising, a series of. slide barsv spaced apart to correspond with the pitch of the" chain, a, series of magazines for chain links, and means for receiving links from said magazines and placing them on said slide bars,

vsaid Vlast-named means and said seriesv of slide bars being relatively shiftable to pro2 1glace overlapping of the links on the Vslide ars.

22. An assembling Vdevice for chains, com-V prising a-series of slide bars spaced apart to correspond With the pitch of the chain, a series of magazines for chain links, a rotating cylinder for receiving links from said magazines and depositing them on said slide bars, said magazines and said series of slide bars being relatively sliiftable to make different sets of slidebars coperate With each magazine.

23. An assembling device for chains, com-v prising'an assembling combconsisting of a series of slide bars each supported at one end and free at the other, said slide bars being spaced apart by distances equal to the pitch of the chain, and means for selectively placing links on said assembling comb so that the slide bars of such assembling comb u 'on said slide bars; K K .K "24. "An assembling device fr climi are receivednihe Slide TOMS', and." Said Saris Y' Gsld''bmsi arid-mgazines being relatively 65 .wi-mess wherdfmelhveireum set 

